Bregman drives in 6 runs in nightcap as Sox sweep Cards

BOSTON -- For the last three years, the Red Sox ran into an oddity that flew in the face of much of their history.

They stopped hitting and winning consistently at Fenway Park. A Boston team that didn’t hammer the Green Monster with regularity? It was a strange phenomenon. And one that appears ready to be tossed aside.

One of the main reasons the Red Sox made Alex Bregman their top target in free agency was his right-handed, pull side power. The thinking is that he would pair perfectly with Rafael Devers, the team’s longest-tenured player and star slugger from the left side.

On Sunday Night Baseball, Bregman (4-for-5, homer, two doubles, six RBIs) and Devers (4-for-4, three RBIs) tore into the Cardinals while helping Boston to an 18-7 romp that completed a sweep of Sunday’s day/night doubleheader and the series.

“I’m really happy and really excited for the both of us,” said Devers. “I feel really happy playing with him because he's a superstar. And as a whole team, we had a really great game, just up and down. And I think that's something that we can expect this year is for us to do performances like we did tonight.”

The Sox won Game 1, 5-4 in comeback fashion, riding Wilyer Abreu’s walk-off single off the Monster and the first home run of the season for Devers.

While the scorching-hot Abreu and the rejuvenated Devers continued to tear into the ball in Game 2, Bregman made himself comfortable in his new home office.

The veteran third baseman had three hits and five RBIs by the third inning. After belting a single to center in his first at-bat, Bregman roped a two-run double off the Monster in his second trip to the plate. In the third, he unloaded for a three-run homer to center.

Hitting heroics at Fenway Park are nothing new for Bregman. His 20 extra-base hits at Fenway in 24 games are second to Travis Hafner (21) for most in history in that amount of games.

"The energy in the ballpark has been electric,” said Bregman. “The fans have been amazing. Obviously, this is one of, if not the most treasured destinations to play baseball. When teams come in here, they're gonna bring their ‘A’ game, so we need to be on top of it, and we want to defend Fenway and play well at home this year, and I think we did a good job here in this first series. Let's keep it going.”

“We've been talking about that for a while,” said manager Alex Cora. “We haven't executed, but it is a good start.”

Hunter Dobbins, Boston’s No. 13 prospect per MLB Pipeline, rode the offensive onslaught en route to a win in his first MLB appearance, scattering eight hits while allowing two hits and striking out five over five innings.

"Growing up in Texas, watching Alex Bregman playing third base behind me, I couldn’t have had a better group of guys to experience that with. It was perfect. That's the easiest way to explain it,” said Dobbins, who was added as the 27th man for the doubleheader.

As for Bregman, he relished standing in the on-deck circle on Sunday night and watching Devers hammer the ball in front of him. As part of his big performance, Devers singled off the Monster in left and hit two skyscrapers for doubles off the big wall in center. This, after going over the Monster for the homer in Game 1.

After going 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts in the first five games of the season, Devers is 10-for-19 with two strikeouts in his last five.

"Everyone knew that it was just a matter of time,” said Bregman. “He's one of the best hitters in the game. He has been for pretty much the last decade. He's an extra base hit monster. His swing decisions have been incredible. He hits the ball harder than anyone, and it's really fun to hit after him, because I get a front row seat to it every night.”